Applications available for Love Your Block grants

The block revitalization program gives up to 30 local non-profit organizations $1,000 in the form of a Home Depot gift card to purchase supplies and equipment necessary to implement a block improvement project that mobilizes community volunteers. Project implementation will take place from August 31 to October 31, 2013.

Applications will be available until Friday, June 14. Love Your Block is one of the Mayor’s 10 servePGH initiatives.

“After four successful seasons of Love Your Block, it is clear that Pittsburgh residents are declaring their commitment to service by having organized over 40 community projects to date in their neighborhoods,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.

This fall, special consideration will be given to projects that engage and beautify local business districts. Encouraged projects include installing flowerboxes, creating pop-up cafes and shops, and projects that take place in neighborhoods with a high population of veterans. City department leaders will meet with the grant awardees and provide city services such as trash collection and graffiti removal to support the projects, as feasible. A full list of available city services can be found in the Love Your Block application.

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 14. Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status in early July. A mandatory grantee orientation will take place in August 2013.

To date, grantees have impacted approximately 150 blocks by collecting 16,436 pounds of litter, creating 127 green spaces, leveraging almost $24,000 in donations and recruiting around 1,700 volunteers through the program.

The spring 2013 Love Your Block season is currently underway as 24 projects are set to take place by June 30. Love Your Block is funded by The Home Depot Foundation and is supported in part by the Corporation for National Community Service and AmeriCorps VISTA program.